The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-02-10
THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
Bill Before the Senate--Valuable
Aid Promised by United
States.
To the Statesman.


Aid Promised by United
States.
To the Statesman.
Among several matters of great interest
now being urged before the
legislature there is none more
worthy of consideration than that of
state survey. Not only throughout this
state is there general interest in this
matter, but the desire for accurate knowl-
edge on the subject comes from all parts
of the country. Although Texas embraces
one-twelfth of the area of the entire UNI
ted States, it is confessedly the least
known of them all geologioally. There is
not single publication delineating ac-
curately even the broad geographical fea-
lures, such as the mountain or drainage
systems of the state, to say nothing of the
more minute geological topics concern
ing the order, areal exposure, extent and
economic value of the strata composing
its crust. Hardly a day passes but what
one hears of alleged discoveries of coal,
iron or other valuable minerals, and the
organization of capital to investigate
them, but it is absolutely impossible to
test the probable veracity of such ru-
mors by any map or publications accessi-
BILE to the world. The amount needlessly
expended by our citizens each year in
useless searches after what is not, would
alone pay for the cost of preparing in
bound volumes accurate statements of the
extent and economic value of every rock
stratum in our boundaries.
But there is no disagreement rs to the
desire or need for geological survey. 1t
has been felt and recognized by our state
government since its earliest conception
The state has several times initiated the
work, but its intentions have been thwart-
ed by circumstances that cannot here, and
need never be repeated. That the
new capitol building will contain
rooms and laboratories for state geolo'
gist is another evidence of this unwritten
desire on the part of our government
The last annual report of the commission
er of insurance statistics and history, af
ter extensive comment on our alleged
mineral wealth, reiterates this opinion
when he says: "This office Is frequently
informed of the valuable discoveries by
individual explorers of coal, iron, copper
and the precious metals. Large deposits
of kaolin, said to be equal to the best
European and Asiatic kaolin, have beer
discovered in Edwards, Fayette and Rob
ertson counties. To these may be added
the beautiful marbles and building stone;
to be found throughout the state.
would suggest that an appropriation be
made for complete geological survey Of
the state by counties"
| The general desire for the present legis
lature to take up this matter has been dis
played by dozen independent express
sions in the shape of bills, petitions, etc
Chief among these are three bills, SO far
introduced for geological survey proper
and several others for vari
Gus bureaus, all branches o
applied geology, such as bureaus o
mines and minerals, agriculture, etc. s.
numerous, varied and unorganized ar
these several spontaneous endeavors, tina
the necessity of the survey is no longer dis
cussed, but the only question now is one
method-how to organize and accomplish
it. All the various movements have as al
object the same end-the ascertalning
publication and preservation of knowledg
concerning the structure of our state-an'
this should be set before the legislature il
no ambiguous terms, so that it SHOULD
have an accurate and COMPREHENSIVE
statement of exactly what work is needed
how to accomplish it without unnecessar.
expense or duplication of work alread
done, and to utilize whatever cooperation
from existing organizations that may b
obtained. Upon two things public senti
ment is agreed, the state should not spen
one cent for superficial work, nor to estab
fish survey which will merely prove
sinecure for some unworthy incumbent.
Fortunately for the movement, news o
the present activity came to the ears o
its friends in Washington, and, in reply t.
a letter from Senator Coke, Major j. W
Powell, director of the United States geo
logical survey, sets forth at length tn
methods of making geological surveys
the difference in function between thu
United States and state surveys, an,
closes with an offer to cooperate with tn
state of Texas to such an extent tina
it would bs a pity not to accept it a
once.
| HOW GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS ARE MADE.
In this letter Major Powell gives clearl
the necessary requisites of geologica
work. He shows that accurate topo
graphic maps are essential to geology
study. Upon such maps the field geolo
gist records his observations relating T.
the character of the rocky strata, tn
strikes, dips, ETC., just as the land sur
veyor records his courses and distance
upon plat, and when the oh
servatien is completed, he is able to tax
in the whole series of observation at
glance; and to classify them, and to per
ceiye the relation of the different vein